Starting device for internal-combustion engines.



H. W. HAMILTON.

STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZT, IQIZ.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

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" UNITED STATES TN'r cr mes.

IIA-NRYWQHAMILTQN, or INDIAIKTAFPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR To THE HAMMEI'X'MANUFAoTURINecoMrANY, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A ooR'PoRA'I'IoN orINDIANA.

STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION EiN'GrINEfi- To all'whom itmdgconcern; v

' Be it k'novvnthat I, HAR Y WV. HAMILTON, a citizenof theUnitedStates,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and Stateof Indiana,have invented a new and useful Starting Device for Internal-Comb'ustionEngines, of which the following is a specification. I p I It isthe'object of my invention toprovide a simple and positive starterforinternal combustion engines, which shallv act uniforinly and ivithoutviolence on the engine, requires the expenditure of a minimum amount ofenergy, is easily and inexpens'ively maintained, and is fool-proof. In

attaining, this obj'ect-,, I- provide gas generator, of any s'u'i table'gas," Which, preferably automatically, maintains, or rather rep'enishes, its pressure as vgas is drawn from it and 1 is automatically 1protected against (an cessiv'e rises. in pressure from overgeneration?.,The gasfromthis generator is supplied through a ;controlvalve and adistributer to the engine cylinder .or cylinders, each cylinder;beingprovided with a valve connecting itfito vthedistrib'uter andconveniently controlled by. the same handle which operates thecontrolyalve. Thedistributer is arranged ,not only to admit fluid underpressure to the engine cylinder or cylinders on their explosion strokes,but to relieve the compression Withinsuch cylinder or cylinders When ontheir compression strokes. In order further to guard against Waste andinefficiency, the gas generator is automatically cut off from the engineWhenever the pressure falls below a predetermined value, thus giving thegenerator time to" build up. a pressure high enough for efiiciency, incase ofheavy drafts of gas therefrom; with the generator shown, the timeis ordinarily but a feW seconds.

The accompanying, drawings illustrate my invention. In these drawings,Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic View showing the system in its entiretyand some of the parts in structural detail; and Fig. 2 is a sectionthrough the ,distributer. on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. i

The generator comprises a gasfgenerating tank 10 in which a quantity ofcalcium carbid 11, (ifthegas used is acetylene, which has someadvantages but is not essential to myinventiom) or, other suitablesubstance,

Specification of Letters Patent.-

. Application file c1 May 27, 1912. Serial No. 699,971.

Patented Aug. 3, 19 15.

is placed, and aliquid' tank 12 for supplying Water or other reagent tothe gas tank toreact with the calcium carbid or other substance 1n thelatter to produce acetylene or The liquid tank 12 is usually other gas.considerably smaller than the gas tank 10, and the latter may be manytimes smaller than the tanks ordinarily used in connection with startersoperating by direct fluid pressure. The two tanks are connected by apipe 13 leading from the top of "the gas tank 10 and convenientlyprovided. Wlllll a hand shutoff valve 14, a pipe 15 leading from thebottom of the Water tank 12, and

a pressure governor for controlling the press'ure above the Water in thetank 12. This governor-comprises a diaphragm 19clamped between twocasing sections 20 and 211, a smaller diaphragm 22 clamped betvveen thetion 23, a valve stem 24. which passes through the diaphragm 22 andis'jclamped thereto by clamping nuts 25and is provided With ahead 26Which bears against that side of the diaphragm 19 Which is toward thecasing section 20, and an adjustablespring 27 which holds said head 26against" the diaphragm 19 and thusdeterminesfthe pressure 10, as bymeans of pipe 28 in Which may be located a hand shut off valve 29. Thepurpose of the diaphragm 22' is'to prevent the pressure in the tank 10from acting against the side of the diaphragm19 which is toward thecasing section 20, said latter casing section being either closed orpro' vided with vent openings 30. I

The tank 10 is provided with a removable head 31at one end, or at eachend if desired, this head 31being held byswinging bolts 31 to a ring '32brazed or otherwiselirmly attached to the body of the tank. The ring 32and l1ead31 preferably fit together by inter-fitting ridges and grooves,as illustrated, to assist in making the joint gascasing section 20 and athird casing sec tight, suitable gaskets being provided where necessary;By removing the head or heads 31, the tank may easily be cleaned outwhen 2a of the automatic out off valve differs desired. A removablescrew plug 33 fits into a hole in the head 31, an inwardly opening checkvalve 34 being screwed into the inner end of this opening. By removingthe .plug 33, an initial charge of water or other reagent may beintroduced into the tank 10 by means of a suitable syringe projectedinto the opening. The check valve 3 1 prevents the gas'whichis'immediately generated from escaping before the plug 33 can bereplaced.

As gas is drawn from the tank 10, the gas pressure above the water orother reagent in the water tank 12 forces thelatter through the pipe 15,the pressure governor, and the pipe 13 into thegas tank 10. This waterreacts with the calcium carbid in the latter tank, and produces moreacetylene, (assuming acetylene to be the gas used,) the pres sure ofwhich forces the water still in the pipes, 13 and 15 back into the tank12, gas from theltank 10 bubbling through the water in the tank, 12' tomaintain, or rather replenish, the pressure above such water.

When the pressure reaches a predetermined value .in the tank 10, thediaphragm 19 is moved by such pressure against the spring 27 to bringthepoint of the valve stem 241 into engagement with its valve seat, thus'shutting ofi the connection between the two tanks 10 and 12 andpreventing the gas pressure above the water in the tank 12' from eX-ceeding a predetermined value. As the capacity of'the pipes 13 and 15 iscomparatively small, the value of the pressure above the water in thetank 12 is thus maintained substantially constant, regardless of thequantity of water withdrawn, and overgeneration due to the successivebuilding up of the pressure above thewater in the tank 12 is effectuallyprevented.

While the gas'producedi in :the tank 10 may be used for many purposes, Iuse it in accordance with the present invention for starting an internalcombustion engine, as of an automobile, by direct pneumatic pressure. Tothis end, gas from the tank 10 is supplied through a pipe 35, which ispreferably a branch pipe from the pipe 28 so that it may be controlledin common with thelatter pipe by the hand shut off valve 29," and anautomatic out off valve to supply pipe 36 leading to the engine throughthe hand control valve and the distributer, of

which more hereafter. The automatic cut off valve comprises casingsections 20 and 21, diaphragms 19 and22, lock nuts 25,

a head 26, and a spring 27 identical in structure with the parts 20, 21,19, 22, 25, 26, and-27 already described. The valve stem from the valvestem 21 of the pressure'governor in that it has a flaring conical end 37instead of a needle point, said flaringend 37 cooperating with a valveseatson a casing section 23 susbtantially identical with the casingsection 23 save that the valve seat is on the side of the casing remotefrom the diaphragms. The pipes 35' and 36 are conprevents the operatorfrom wasting the gas by continuing to draw it from the tank 10 y whenthe pressure therein-is too low to be eflicient for startingtheengine,and allows the generator time, only a few seconds ordinarily beingnecessary, to build up the pressure to an 'e-flicient 'valueiythen theauto- 'matic'cut-off valve opens and allows gas to be drawn from thetank to continue the starting operation.-

Thepipe 36 leads to the casing 40 of the 3 control valve. This casinghas a central passage41'provided at its two ends with outwardly andoppositely facing valve seats, with which valve heads 42 andj413, whichare mounted on a common valve stem 44 smaller than thepassagetl and arespaced farther apart than are the valve seats, respectively coiperate.Thevalve head 42 and its valve seat are'conical, while the valve head.43 and its seat may be flat, the valve head 43 preferably being facedwith rubber 4:5

or other yieldable material "on its side toward the valve seat. Thevalve stem 1 1 ofthe control valve is suitably connected, as by a bellcrank lever 46, to be moved by a rod 47 and push lmob 48, the

latter conveniently being mounted on the dashboard of an automobile iftheappa ratus is used in connection with an automobile. The controlvalve is biased, both by a spring 19' and by the pressure from the pipe'36 on the valve head 12, to hold said valve head against its seat andthus close the valve. valve'is opened by theseparationof the valve head42 from. its seat, the valve head 43 at the same time being movedagainst its valve seat to prevent leakage around the valve stem. Theopening of the control valve opens the pipe 36 to a pipe 50, leadingfrom the passage 11 between the two valve seats. The pipe 50 leads'to anopening 51 on one side of the casing 52 of'the distributer,

the other side of said casing being provided with a series of openings53 equidistant'from the center of the casing and equally spaced When theknob 48 vis pushed, the I apart, the number. ofsaid openingsti53 being'equ'alt'o' the number of cylinders of the engine with which the deviceis associated; a four cylinder engine being illustrated. The openings 53are connected, by pipes 54 to valves 55' opening intothe respectiveengine cylindersly2, 3, and 4;, saidyalves 55 being normally closed andbeing openable' by the rod 47 when the latter is moved to open thecontrol valve. The valves 55 are substantially the same in" structure asthe control valve, but here the gas pressure is admitted through theopening at the side of, the valve casing and discharged. through theopening at the end thereof'jwher'eas on the control valve the gasisadinitted' through'the opening at the end of the valve casing anddischarged through the opening at the side thereof. Thusineac h valve55, all'pressure from the gastank 10 being cut 05 when the control valveclosed, any pressure from the associated engine cylinder acts at alltimes against the head of the valve, thereby aiding-the spring inkeeping the valve seated and ,preventingleakage' when the starter is notbeing operated to start the motor. If desired, a shut ofi valve 29,separate from thevalVe 29, may be placed in the pipe'36, convenientlybeing located on the dashboard if the device is used on an automobile.The

casing'52 of theldist ribut er is also provided with an opening56 on thesame side of the casing as but nearer the center thereof than are theopenings 58, saidopehing 56 communicating,as by a pipe 57, with'theatmosphere. I

' Mounted within the casing 52 is a rotary disk 60, which is driven at aspeed proportional to that of the engine shaft 59, convenientlyatonehalf engine speed if the engine is of the four-cycle type. The disk60 is thinner than the space withinthe casing 52, and When pressure isadmitted through the pipe 50 and opening 51 is held firmly against thatside of the casing which is provided with the openings 53 and 56. Whensuch "pressure relieved, the disk moves slightly away from theinnersurface of the casing, and itscenteronthe side of the disk towardthe opening 51fb'ears against a bearing ball 61, thusreducing frictionto a minimum. The dis'k60isprovided' with a notch 62 in its periphery,such notch being of such angular length thatlit successively opens thevarious openings 53, to I the space: on the other side of such disk 'and'th'us to the pipe 50 during the time that the corresponding enginecylinders I are on 'their explosion strokes, but closes the openings 53before the exhausts of such respective cylinders are opened. L Thedisk60 is provided on its side toward theopenings 53 and 56' with acircular recess 63: which'is'provided with a sectorial wing 64; Thecircular recess continually covers the opening 56duringthe rotation ofthe disk 60, and the'Wing 6& of such recess covers the various openings53 successively. The wing 64 of this recess isso loc'ated that it opensthe various engine cylinders to the atmosphere, through the openings 53and 56, when such cylinders are, on their compression strokes. Thiseliminates, or, greatly reduces, the compressing action within thecylinders, and thus greatly diminishes the work required in startingtheengine. lVhile permissible, it is not necessary that the. wing 64 ofthe recess open the engine cylinders to the atmosphere during the Wholeof their compression strokes, as ample relief is found to be obtained byconnecting such cylinders to the atmosphere during the latter parts ofsuch strokes. I

. To start the engine, the ignition circuit, if desired, first beingclosed as is usually done preparatory to cranking the engine, the knob48 is pushed to open the control valve and'the valves 55. This admitspressure fromv the tank 10, provided such pres sure is sufiiciently highto allow the automatic cut ofi' valve to be open, through the opening 51of the distributer,the notch 62, and the proper opening 53 and pipe54,into the engine cylinder which is on its explosion stroke. At thesame time, thepressure within the engine cylinder which is on itscompression stroke is relieved through the recess,

63 and its Wing 6d, cotiperating with the opening 56 and. pipe 57. Thepressure thus supplied from the tank 10 tomthe cylinder on its explosionstroke operates the piston sion strokes, the compression in each of saidcylinders being previously relieved to diminish the work required. Aftera few revolutions of the engine shaft, the knob may be released topermit the spring 46 to close the valves 55 and the control valve. Theignition circuit must now be closed if it has'not previously beenclosed. The engine is now in its normal condition and operates under itsown power, the momentum given it by the starter, carrying it, past thepoint where the first explosion of compressed carbureted air takesplacey-just as in the case of cranking'by hand. While the starter gas,even when acetylene, is not itself an explosive mixture, and even ifadmitted to the firing chamber of the cylinder or cylinders of theengines at the time the ignition sparking takes place therein would notproduce an explosion in the firing chamber or in the exhaust pipe ormuffler, by my device the starter gas is not admitted to any cylinderwhile ignition sparking takes place therein; that is, it is not admittedby the distributer into any cylinder until after the piston on itsfiring strokehas passed its ignition point and is on its downwardstroke; and it is largely exhausted or withdrawnfrom the cylinder by thesucceeding exhaust stroke of the engine and before the next compressionstroke and consequently beforethe next succeeding ignition spark takesplace in such cylinder, the operation being the same in each separatecylinder or the engine. As pressure is drawn from the tank 10, water orother reagent is automatically supplied [from the tank 12 to maintainthe pressure in the former tank, the pressure governor acting tomaintain such pressuresubstantially constant within comparatively narrowlimits, and to replenish such pressure to a value which is substantiallyconstant within even narrower limits. If, for any reason, as because theengine persistently fails to begin operating under up, which asheretofore' shown is ordinarily practically an instantaneous operation,the. ,automatic cut oifvalve opens to allow the starting operation tocontinue.

Although my system comprises a number of moving parts, these parts areall so arranged that no packings are required at any moving ioints. As aresult, the dlfficulties caused by such packings are entirelyeliminated. i :I claim as my 1nvent1on: 40

1. "In combination, an internal combustion engine, a gas generator whichproduces gas under pressure suflicient to start the engine and in whichthe production of gas is controlled by the pressure of such produced"gas, and a control valve for admitting gas "from said generator to saidengine. 1 2. In combination, an internal combustlon engine, a chemicalgas generator which produces gas under pressure sufficlent to start theengine and in which the production of gas is controlled by the pressureof such produced gas, said generator comprising two -connectedcompartments respectively containing a liquid and another substancewhichreact to produce the gas, and a controlvalvefor admitting gas fromsaid generator to said engine.

' 3. Incombination, an internal combustion engme, a gas generator whichproduces gas under pressure sufficient to start the engine and in whichthe production of gas is controlled by the pressure of such producedgas, a control valve for. admitting gas from said generator to saidengine, and an automatic cut ofi valve for closing the connectionbetween the generator and. the engine when the gas pressure in thegenerator falls below a predetermined value. I i

t. In combination, a multicylinderinternal combustion engine, a gasgenerator which produces gas under pressure sufficient to start theengine and in which the production of gas is controlled by the pressureof such produced gas, a control valve for admitting gas from saidgenerator to said engine, a distributer operated from the engine anddirecting the gas thus admitted to the engine cylinders on theirexplosion strokes, a valve associated with each engine cylinder andcontrolling its connections to the distributer, and a common operatingmeans for all said last named valves and said control valve, saiddistributer being provided with ports for comiecting the enginecylinders to atmosphere when they are on their compression strokes andthe associated valves are open.

5. In combination, .a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a gasgenerator which produces gas under pressure sufficient to start theengine and in which the production of gas is controlled by the pressureof such produced gas, a control valve for admitting gas from saidgenerator to said engine, and a distributer operated from the engine anddirecting the gas thus admitted to the engine cylinders on theirexplosion strokes.

6. In combination, a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a gasgenerator which produces gas under pressure sufficient to start theengine and in which the production of gas is controlled by the pressureof such produced gas, a controlvalve for admitting gas from saidgenerator to said engine, a distributer operated from theengine anddirecting the gas thus admitted to the engine cylinders on theirexplosion strokes, and anautomatic cut off valve for closing theconnectionbetween the generator and the engine when the gas-pressure inthe generator falls below a predetermined value.

7. In combination, a multicylinder internal combustion engine, achem'icalgas generator which produces gas under pressure nal combustionengine, a gas generator which produces gas under pressure sufiicient tostart the'engine and in Which-the producsuflicient to start the engineand in which the I tion of gas is controlled by the pressure of suchproduced gas, a control valve for admitting gas from said generator tosaid engine, a distributer operated from the en gine and directijngthegas thus admitted to the engine cylinders on their explosionstrokes,;and a ,valve associated with each engine cylinder andcontrolling its. connections tothe distrihuter. I

9. In combination, a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a gasgenerator which produces gas under pressuresufiicient to start theengine and in which the production of gas is controlled by the pressureof such produced gas, a control valve for admittinggasfrom' saidgenerator to said engine,-a distributeroperated from the en gine anddirecting the gas thus admitted to the engine cylinders on theirexplosion strokes, a valve associated with eachengine cylinder andcontrolling its connections to the distributor, and a common operatingmeans for all said last named valves and said control valves.

10. In combination, a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a gasgenerator which produceslgas under pressure sufficient to start theengine and in which the production of gas is controlled by the pressureof such produced gas, a control valve for ad mitting gas from saidgenerator to said engine, a distributer operated from the engine anddirecting the gas thus admitted to the engine cylinders on theirexplosion strokes, and a valve associated with each engine cylinder andcontrolling its connection to the distributer, said distributer beingprovided with ports for connecting the engine cylinder. to atmospherewhen they are on their compression strokesand the associated valves areopen.

11. In combination, a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a gasgenerator which producesgas under pressure sufficient to start theengine and in which the production ofgas is controlled by the pressureof such producedgaaa control valve for admitting gas from said generatorto said engine, a distributer operated from the engine and directing thegas thus admitted to'the engine cylinders on their explosion strokes, avalve associated with each enginecylinder and controlling itsconnections to the distributer, a common operating means for all saidlast named valves and said control valves, and an automatic cut offvalve for closing the connection between the generator and the enginewhen the gas pressure in the generator falls below a predeterminedvalue.

12.In combination, a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a gasgenerator.

which producesgas under pressure'sufiicient to start the engine and inwhich the produc tionof gas controlled bythe pressureof such produced"gas, a control valve for admitting gas from said generator to saidengine, a distribute-r operated from the en:

erator which produces gas under pressure sufficient to start the engineand in which the production of gas is'controlledby the pressure of suchproduced gas, saidgenerator comprising two connected compartmentsrespectively containing a liquid and another substance which reacts toproduce the gas, a control valve for admittingfgas from said generatorto said engine, a distributer operated from the engine and directing thegas thus admitted to the engine cylinders on their explosion strokes,and a valve associated with each engine cylinder and controlling itsconnection to the wdiS: tributer.

14. A distributor for starting apparatus for internal combustionengines, comprising a casing, and a disk rotatable in sa'idcasing, saidcasing being provided on one side of the disk with an opening to asource of fluid supply and on the other side ofthe disk with a circularseries of openingsfto the various engine cylinders and With an exhaustopening out of such circular series, and said disk being cut away toconnect the openings of said series successively to said first namedopening and recessed on the side toward suchexhaust opening to connect,the latter successively to the openings of said series as the disk isrotated.

15. A distributer for starting apparatus for internal combustion engine,comprising a casing having a circular series of openings for connectionto the several engine cylinders and two openings outside of said series,one of said last named openings being for exhaust and the other forconnection to a source of fluid supply, and a rotary member within saidcasing, said rotary member being provided with cut away portions forconnecting each of said last named openings successively to the severalopenings of'said series as the rotary member rotates.

16. In combination, a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a sourceof fluid pressure, a control valve for admitting fluid under'pressurefrom said source to said engine, adistributer operated from the enginegenerator falls below a predeterv a valve associated with each enginecylinder and controlling its connection to the distributer, and a commonoperating means for all said last named valves and said control valves,said distributer being provided with portsfor connecting the enginecylinders to atmosphere when they are on their compression strokes andthe associated valves are Open. 7V

17. In combination, a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a sourceof fluid pressure, a control valve for admitting fluid under pressurefrom said source to said engine, a distributer operated from the engineand directing the fluid thus admitted to the engine cylinders on theirexplosion strokes,

anda valve associated with each engine cylinder andcontrolling itsconnection to the distributer, said distributer being provided withports for connecting the engine cylinders to atmosphere when they are ontheir compression strokes and the associated valves are open.

18. The method of starting a multicylinder internal combustion engine,which consists in generating a gas under sufficient pressure to operatethe engine by direct fluid pressure by bringing together substanceswhich react to produce such gas and replenishing the pressure as the gasis used by bringing together more of such substances, supplying the gasunder pressure to. the engine cylinders successively when on explosionstroke, and relieving the compression within the engine cylinderssuccessively when on compression stroke.

19. The method of starting an internal combustion engine, Which consistsin generating a gas'under suflicient pressure to operate the engine bydirect fluid pressure by bringing together substances which react toproduce such gas and replenishing the pressure as the gas isused bybringing together more of such substances, supplying the gas underpressure to the engine cylinder when on explosion stroke, and relievingthe compression within the engine cylinders when on compression stroke.

20. The method of starting a multicylinder internal combustion engine,which consists in generating a. gas under sufficient pressure to operatethe engine by direct fluid pressure and replenishing the pressure as thegas is used, supplying the gas under pressure to the engine cylinderssuccessively when on explosion stroke, and relieving the compressionwithin the engine cylinders successively when on compression stroke.

21.'The methodof starting a multicylinder internal combustion engine,which consists in generating a gasunder sufficient pressure to operatetheengine by direct fluid pressure by bringing together substances whichreact to produce such gas and replenishing the pressure as the gas isused by bringing together more of such sub'-- stances, and supplying thegas under pressure to the engine cylinders successively when onexplosion stroke.

22-. The method of starting an internal combustion engine,-whichconsists in generating a gas under sufficient pressure to opto producesuch gas and replenishing thepressure as the gas is used by bringingtogether more of such substances, and'supplying the gas under pressureto the engine.

cylinder when on explosion stroke.

24. The method of starting a multicylinder internal combustion engine,which consists in generatingagas under sufficient pressure to operatethe engine byfdirect fluid pressure and replenishing the pressure as thegas is used, and supplying-the gas under pressure to the engine cylindersuccessively when on explosion stroke.

25. The method of starting, an internal combustion engine, whichconsists: in generatmg a gas under sufiicient pressure tooperate theengine by direct fluid pressure and replenishing the pressure as the gasis used, and supplying the gas under pressure to the engine cylinderwhen on explosion stroke.

26. In combination, a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a gasgenerator which, produces gas under pressure sufficient tostart theengine and in which the pressure is replenished by additional generationwhen the pressure of the gas is reduced below av predetermined value bythe using of the gas, a control valve for admitting gas from saidgenerator to said engine, a dis tributer operated from said engine anddirecting the gas thus admitted tothe various engine cylinders when onexplosion stroke, and a, valve associated with each engine cylinder andcontrolling its connection to the distributer, said distributerbeingprovided with ports for connecting the various engine cylinders toatmosphere when "on compression stroke. 27. In combination, an internalcombustion engine, a gas generator which produces gas under pressuresufficient to start the engine and in which the ,pressureis replenishedby additional generation when the pressure of the gas is reduced below,a pre-- determined value by the {using offthe gas, a

controli valve for admitting Igas hem said generator ,to' sald eng1ne,.adistributel, Operated from said engine and directing the gas thusadmitted to the engine cylinder when onexplofsio'n stroke, a valve';associated with the engine cylinder and controlling its connection ,tothe distributer, said clist'ributer being provided with ports" forconnecting the engine cylinder to atmosphere when on compression stroke.f

28. In combination, 'an internal combustion engine, a gas generatorwhich produces gasunder pressure "s'uflicientto start the engine and inwhich the pressure is replenished by additional generation when thepressure of the gas is reduced below a predetermined value by the usingof the gas, and a control Valve for admitting gas from said generator tosaid engine.

29. In combination, a multicylinder internal combustion engine, a gasgenerator which produces gas under pressure sufficient to start theengine and in which the pressure is replenished by additional generationwhen the pressure of the gas is reduced below a predetermined value bythe using of the gas, a control valve for admitting gas from saidgenerator to said engine, and a clistributer operated from said engineand directing the gas thus admitted to the various engine cylinders whenon explosion stroke, said distributer being provided with ports forconnecting the various enginercylinders to atmosphere when oncompression stroke.

30. In combination, an internal combustion engine, a gas generator whichproduces gas under pressure suiiicient to start, the engine and in whichthe pressure is replenished by additional generation when the pressureof the gas is reduced below apredetermined value by the using of thegas, a control valve for admitting gas from said generator to saidengine, and a distributer operated from said engine and directing thegas thus admitted to the engine cylinder when on explosion stroke, saiddistributer being provided with ports for connecting the engine cylinderto atmosphere when on compression stroke.

31. In combination, an internal combustion engine, a chemical gasgenerator for generating gas under suflicient pressure to operate theengine by direct fluid pressure, means for supplying gas under pressurefrom said generator to start said engine, said generator being capableof replenishing the gas pressure as gas is used and having suflicientstorage capacity to supply enough gas to the engine normally to startthe latter. s

82. In combination, an internal combustion engine, a chemical gasgenerator for generating gas under sufiicient pressure to operate theengine by directfiuidpressure, meansffor "supplying gas under "pressurefromfjsaidfge'nerator to start said engine, said generator being capableof replenishing the gas pressure as gas is used and having suiiicientstorage capacity to supply enough gas-toflthe engine normally to startthe latter, and means for automatically disc'onnect ing the engine fromthegenera'torifthe gas pressure in-the -latter falls below apredeterminedvalue. i

33. In" combination, an internal combus tion engine, a reservoir for gasunder pressure, means for supplying gas from said reservoir to startsaid engine, means acting independently of said engine for automaticallyreplenishing the gas pressure in said reservoir when it falls below apredetermined value, and an automatic cut-ofl valve for closing theconnection whereby the gas is supplied from the reservoir in case thepressure in the reservoir falls below a lower predetermined value.

84:. In combination, an internal combustion engine, a reservoir for gasunder pressure, a controlling valve for supplying gas from saidreservoir to start said engine by direct fluid pressure, an automaticvalve responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for admittingmaterial thereinto to replenish the gas pressure therein, and anautomatic cut-ofi valve for closing the connection wherebyv the gas issupplied from the reservoir in case the pressure in the reservoir fallsbelow a predetermined value.

35'. The method of starting an internal combustion engine, whichconsists in chemically producing a gas under suiiicient pressure to movethe engine, injecting such gas into the engine, and controlling theproduction of the gas by the pressure thereof to maintain asubstantially constant pressure always available.

36. In combination, an internal combus tion engine, a gas producer forproducing a gas under suflicient pressure to move the en gine and forreplenishing such pressure to a substantially constant value as the gasis used from the producer, and means for supplying the gas from saidproducer to said engine to start the latter.

37. In combination, an internal combustion engine, a chemical gasproducer for producing a gas and replenishing it toa substantiallyconstant pressure as it is used, said pressure being sufiicient to startthe engine, and means for supplying the gas from said producer to saidengine.

88. In combination, an internal combustion engine, a chemical gasproducer for pro ducing a gas and replenishing it as it is used to asubstantially constant pressure suflicient to start the engine, and adistributer for controlling the supply of gas from said producer to saidengine.

v39; In combination, a multi-cylin'derf internal combustion engine,a'chemical gas producer for producing a combustible, gas

and replenishingit as it is used to a subdifferent cylinders of saidenglne. H

' 40. In combination, a multi-cylinder in-' ternal combustion engine, achemical gas producer for producing a gas and replenishing it as itisused to a substantially constant (loniesof this patent maybe obtainedfor pressure sufficient to start said engine, and.

a distributer/receivinggas from said .producer and supplying it todifferent cylinders of said engine.

In Witness whereof, I have'hereunto set my hand and sealatIndianapolis;Indiana, j

this 25th day of May, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twelve.

v HARRY HA IL N; [m

Witnesses; r o G. B. SOHLEY, FRANK A. ,FAHLE.

five cents eachby; addressing the fflommissioner of Batents, Washington,D. C.

